67s Report Card for the 2022-23 season. As usual, these are based on my own personal expectations coming into the season. So, if a player simply lived up to expectations, they would get somewhere between a C+ and a B.
Goaltending:
Max Donoso (B+) - I had reasonable expectations for Max. I figured he’d be a solid starter and he was. It is harder for the goalies than the skaters with the lost Covid seasons But he managed to compile a decent season last year and followed it up with some pretty great numbers this year. I think he earned a heck of a lot of respect across the league as well. He’s not quite big enough to get pro considerations but he will return for an OA season. Will it be with Ottawa?
Colin MacKenzie (A+) - MacK did a great job in a backup role. I firmly believe the reason why Ottawa managed to compile so many points ont he season was because of MacK. Most backups simply fill in for a game here and there on 3 in 3 or 3 in 4 weekends and maybe give their team a chance to win. Not MacK. 21-2-1? 1.88 and .928? For a backup? He also played a lot of solid teams. He didn’t just get bottom-feeder teams. He will likely be the starter next season. Let’s see what he can do with a lessor team in front of him.
Defence:
Derek Smyth (C-) - Missed a lot of time due to sickness. I had higher expectations for Derek to nail down that #6 slot. He seemed to be there up to the time he left the team to heal. When he came back, he wasn’t ever able to regain his status. I don’t think that is a reflection on him as much as it was a reflection on the rest of the roster. However, these grades are based on expectation and Smyth didn’t meet expectations.
Patel Mintyukov (B-) - Came as advertised. Best D-Man in the OHL? I think so. Many will argue Clarke of course but I give the nod to Mintyukov because he was here the whole season. It is hard to judge a player based only on a half season. This kid is going to have a stellar NHL career. Size and skill from the back end? And can defend? He looks effortless out there. Just a crazy good player.
Bradley Horner (B+) - Tough to grade a kid signed mid-season and then only play a little bit. HOWEVER, was this kid on anyone’s radar? At all? Nope. Horner has some jam. May need to brush up on the discipline but he is an in your face kinda D-Man that plays from the right side. You can always use players like that.
Thomas Sirman (A) - Sirman is a versatile player that should hav played defence the entire season IMO. A defensively responsible and tough kid. Undersized but not in the heart category. 5 on 5, he is really good. Rarely on the ice for goals against. Not very offensive but still did manage to compile some decent point totals, especially considering he played as a 4th line winger the second half of the season. I’m not sure there is a role for him on this team next year. I think for his own good, he needs a chance to play on a team that values him more.
Frankie Marrelli (A+) - I questioned why we played this kid so much in the first half. I didn’t question it when the second half was over. He was solid in the playoffs, one of our most dependable players on the back end. So mature for a 16 year old. Probably our rookie of the year when all is said and done.
Henry Mews (B-) - Highly touted rookie lived up to expectations. He managed to get a solid season of development in and I expect his performance to only rise next season. He’s prone to turn over the puck a little too much in the D-Zone but that isn‘t abnormal for a 16 year old. Mews is likely going to develop into one of the most prolific D-Men in 67’s history. His ability in the O-Zone is crazy good. I think he will be the #1 PP QB next season and will likley manage close to a point per game. NHL 1st round pick? Looking like it.
Anthony Costantini (B+) - slightly above expectations. Dependable right side D-Man with some offensive upside. Decent size. I think playing with Mintyukov hurt Costantini this season. It is hard to say that but he couldn’t play to his strengths and was forced to play to his weaknesses. His gap control in the D-Zone has always been weak. That get highlighted when he is the first man back having to contain the front puck carrier all the time playing with Minty, I felt bad for him a lot of the time But the rest of the defence was young so he had to pull that duty. That was exposed even more in the playoffs. Overall, a solid OHL career For a 6th rounder.
Matthew Mayich (B+) - He’s just a really solid defensive D-Man. Plays hard nosed but smart. I’d like to see him work more on his skating. I think that is the area that keeps him from being an elite D-Man. His shot improved this year a bit though. He’s a late birthdate and eligible for the draft this year. He has enough size but not sure he shows enough overall to get the nod in the NHL draft. He probably deserves it though.
Gavin Ewles (B+) - I didn’t expect Ewles to actually make this team. I didn’t think Boyd was going to cut so deep int he pre-season trading away both Sawyer and Gill-Shane. But, he did and that opened the door for Ewles. He is sneaky tough. He plays a decent all around D-Man game. On a less deep team, he would have the tools to play as a 3rd pairing kid on most teams. Plays from the right side which is always valued. I think he is going to be a big part of next years team. If I had to guess, I’d say if Mews and MArrelli continue to play together, he’s going to play with Mayich. That will allow him s a little freedoM to play more offensively and I have a sneaky suspicion he is going to rise to the occasion and perform to a higher level than most think.
Jack Matier (A) - I really didn’t see the offence there in Matier’s game. Even after acquiring Mintyukov and relegating him to the 2nd PP unit, Matier still managed to piece together a really strong season. I question his overall defensive game in the playoffs but I think that had a lot to do with him feeling the need to step up in the toughness category with that lacking on the club. It dragged him out of his containment zone and forced him to play a little too much on the fringes of the safe areas where he excels in a shut down role. It will be sad to see him go. A real heart and soul type of player. I wish him the best in his NHL career. I think he is borderline but I am leaning on him to actually nail down a regular gig eventually. Probably needs two seasons in the AHL First.
Forwards:
Chris Barlas (C) - I don’t think anyone really had high expectations from Barlas. I was hopeful he’d figure it out and FINALLY Cameron shifted him to the wing. He managed to carve out a role on the 67’s Playing a more physical and defensive game. All great except he is a little smaller. He’s going to have to scale down the physical part a bit. Overall, I think Chris had a strong season related to expectations. His injury late int he season really pulled him from the equation so his rating slips a little because of it. Where does he fit in next season? I think as a defensively responsible 3rd line LW that also kills penalties. If he plays at a higher level than that successfully, his rating would likely go up quite a bit.
Cameron Tolnai (A) - It is always hard to make a judgement on Tolnai. Did he outscore his expectations? No. Does his stat line stand out at all? No. Where he stands out is his leadership on the ice, his ability to win faceoffs at a high level and his overall steady and consistent play. He performed at the level this team needed all season. I know they don’t give out letters anymore but I don’t think there is a doubt he was the captain. I think he lived up to expectations and exceeded them greatly from a leadership perspective.
Tyler Boucher (F) - Couldn’t stay healthy. Loads of potential but the 67’s really didn’t see any of it. Less than a point per game when he was in the lineup. Pretty much a wasted seasons and Boucher would agree.
Logan Morrison (B-) - Came as advertised. Awesome that he managed to get that first class NHL: deal signed and with an organization that may be able to elevate him quicker. Such a good overall player.
Brady Stonehouse (A) - I don’t think anyone saw 35+ goals in Stonehouse. I think everyone knows the type of player he is but he is sneaky fast and has a nose for the net. Disappointing playoff though. It will be interesting to watch him next season and see where he goes from here.
Jack Dever (B) - Another player I didn’t really expect to crack the roster but he did. He’s a little too small to be overly effective so he needs to make hay playing on the perimeter. I’m still not sure he is going to crack the roster again next year but he managed to this year so why not next?
Jack Beck (D) - Injuries again this year keep him from performing at the level he is capable. I had him pencilled in for 40 goals but he jsut can’t stay on The ice. When he was, he performed well but wasn’t scoring goals. I think this was a very disappointing season for Jack and it will likely cost him his NHL contract. I think he returns for an OA season. Very disappointing compared to where we thought he’d end up.
Luca Pinnelli (A) - I had high expectations for Pinelli this season. You could see it late last season where this kid could sneak his way into a point per game Even as a 17 year old. 18 points in 11 playoff games? Are you kidding me? He’s can be so explosive. With the right centre, I think Pinelli can rack up 90 points next season with around 40 goals.
Will Gerrior (A+) - Sirius’s most loved player. I have to admit that he grew on me. I looked at him as a solid 3rd line plugger. Even though he really is still only a 3rd line player on the depth chart, he elevated himself well past the role of plugger. He had a decent offensive season and a solid playoff. I think his future is far more bright than I expected.
Vincenz Rohrer (C) - I expected more from Rohrer this year. He works tirelessly for sure. But, I think he is miscast as a centre. I think he needs to have the reigns loosened by playing on the wing. I think Boyd did a massive disservice to Rohrer and his development not acquiring the centre so he could shift to the wing so he could go hunting. If he’d have played with Morrison, he’d have managed 30–40-70 this season but he finishes under a point per game which is rather disappointing.
Brad Gardiner (A) - You could see he had it in him last season. Flashes of skill with decent hands and he worked hard. I didn’t think he would find his place this early. I looked at him as the 4th line centre this season and maybe 25 points. I knew he‘d grow into a strong player but this fast? Crazy. He is going to be a really good OHL player. Think Cam Tolnai but more offence.
Caden Kelly (B-) - I think the future is really looking bright for Caden. He has a lot of moxie out there. You can see he has a gritty side and will play in your face type of minutes but he can dangle and skate as well. I’d really like to have seen him get more minutes this season but overall not a bad first year development.
Cooper foster (B) - Solid offensive output but trailed off in the second half when the focus shifted for the tema int he 2nd half. Strong defensive player that can score goals. His play is a little too inconsistent and I find him to be more opportunistic that he probably should be. I’d like to see him drive the play a little more. He does play a bit of an agitator role well. He needs to find some balance though. Maybe slightly too greasy as an agitator? I’d like to see some more physicality to back up that agitator role he likes to play. Sort of earn it more like Stonehouse does.
That covers it! Another season in the books. Time to focus on next year…..
